DMCC, the leading international business district that drives the flow of global trade through Dubai, welcomed over 1,100 new companies in the first half of 2025, bringing its district-wide total to almost 26,000 members. The DMCC Crypto Centre also crossed a significant milestone, surpassing 700 companies following a 38% year-on-year increase, and taking the total number of tech companies within the district to over 3,300.<\/p>\n
Growth was fuelled by strong demand from key overseas markets such as China, T\u00fcrkiye and the United Kingdom, new licensing options, and expanded commercial reach in Asia. Strategic investment in DMCC\u2019s sector-specific ecosystems and real estate portfolio \u2013 as part of its 10-year growth strategy \u2013 also played a key role in driving momentum. Meanwhile, the expansion of DMCC\u2019s flagship districts of Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) and Uptown Dubai continued at pace, marked by major groundbreakings and new F&B openings.<\/p>\n
The results reflect the strength of DMCC\u2019s integrated model \u2013 combining operational clarity, world-class infrastructure and ecosystems. With plans underway to expand into emerging sectors such as water and quantum technologies, DMCC remains a vital contributor to Dubai\u2019s diversified economy \u2013 accounting for 15% of its annual FDI and 7% of GDP.<\/p>\n
Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC,<\/strong>\u00a0said: \u201cWith over 1,100 new companies joining in the first half of the year\u2014driven by robust growth from China, T\u00fcrkiye, and the UK \u2013 DMCC is now rapidly approaching 26,000 member companies. This continued growth reaffirms the enduring strength of our value proposition and Dubai\u2019s appeal as a global business destination. In the face of rapid transformation brought by AI and other frontier technologies, we are intensifying our focus on high-growth sectors while expanding our ecosystems, service offering, and physical infrastructure to support the next wave of innovation-led investment. From advanced technology to established commodities, DMCC remains the business district of choice for ambitious enterprises looking to scale with confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n Feryal Ahmadi, Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer, DMCC,\u00a0<\/strong>added: \u201cOur first-half performance is a direct result of our long-term commitment to building high-performance ecosystems that deliver commercial impact and operational value for our members. From real estate to technology and trade, every layer of our district is designed to meet global demand \u2013 and these results demonstrate that alignment. As we move into the second half of the year, we will continue to expand our services, accelerate infrastructure delivery and unlock new opportunities for growth across all sectors.\u201d<\/p>\n Rapid Tech Ecosystem Growth<\/strong><\/p>\n DMCC\u2019s integrated technology ecosystem continued to gain traction, with the DMCC Crypto Centre surpassing 700 companies \u2013 a 38% increase year-on-year \u2013 driven by the addition of leading firms such as Bitcoin.com and Animoca Brands, with both establishing their first regional offices in the district. The DMCC Gaming Centre grew to over 140 companies, while the DMCC AI Centre, launched last September, expanded to over 110 companies. In total, DMCC now counts almost 1,000 companies licensed through these three centres alone \u2013 and over 3,300 tech companies district-wide as it continues to reinforce its leading position as a global hub for Web3 and emerging technologies.<\/p>\n In response to DMCC\u2019s rapidly growing Web3 community, in January DMCC and REIT Development announced the construction of Crypto Tower \u2013 a landmark 17-storey project in JLT that will include over 150,000 square feet of leasable space, nine office floors, three dedicated floors for blockchain incubators, an AI innovation floor, a crypto club, gold bullion shop and vault storage area.<\/p>\n DMCC also revealed plans for a new ecosystem \u2013 DMCC Quantum \u2013 aimed at supporting quantum-era innovation and establishing Dubai as a leading gateway for this emerging field.<\/p>\n Commodities Milestones: Record Coffee Prices, Diamond Trade, and Water Innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n In the commodities space, DMCC continued to reach major milestones. In a defining moment, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, visited the Dubai Diamond Exchange \u2013 the largest diamond tender facility in the world with over 1,350 companies. The visit coincided with DMCC\u2019s announcement that the UAE<\/a> surpassed one billion carats of diamonds traded over the past five years, underscoring Dubai\u2019s position as the global capital of the diamond trade.<\/p>\n The inaugural DMCC Specialty Coffee Auction held at World of Coffee in February showcased some of the world\u2019s rarest and finest coffees and set record prices \u2013 including the highest-selling coffee from Finca Sophia, a farm in Panama, that sold for USD 10,020 per kilo.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, DMCC also launched a strategic partnership with AQUA-INDEX to support the world\u2019s first water-backed digital asset token \u2013 further laying the foundation for the new DMCC Water Centre, a platform for sustainable water innovation, trading and investment.<\/p>\n Strong Demand in Global Markets<\/strong><\/p>\n DMCC continued to attract strong international investment in the first half of 2025, with notable growth from key overseas markets. Company registrations from the United Kingdom rose by over 23% year-on-year, bringing the total number of British companies in the district to nearly 2,200. T\u00fcrkiye also recorded robust growth, with a 22% year-on-year increase and close to 700 Turkish companies now operating within DMCC. Meanwhile, the number of Chinese companies grew by nearly 10%, reaching a total of almost 1,000. In February, DMCC signed two strategic partnerships with Beijing Innovation Service Hub and Beijing Chaoyang CCPIT to enhance bilateral trade and business connectivity with China.<\/p>\n Expanded Licensing Options and Southeast Asia Presence<\/strong><\/p>\n International growth was further supported by the introduction of two new licensing categories \u2013 Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and Holding Company licences \u2013 providing greater flexibility for companies to structure investments, manage assets, and oversee regional operations. These new licences have proven especially attractive for family offices, investment firms and multinationals entering the UAE. To enhance its presence in Southeast Asia, DMCC appointed Hawksford as its International Sales Partner in Singapore, enabling deeper engagement and support for businesses across the region.<\/p>\n